愛火如焚拯萬世，忍對分裂創共融

讀經一：(耶38:4-6,8-10)：耶肋米亞先知被迫害
讀經二：(希12:1-4)：應依靠基督對抗罪惡
福　音：(路12:49-53)：耶穌是人反對的對象
中國文化：鼎鑊甘如飴，求之不可得。
十年以來，父母不得以為子，妻孥不得以為夫，手足不得以為兄弟，交遊不得以為朋友。

我來是要把火投在世上，我是多麼切望它已經燃燒起來！我有一個應受的洗禮，我是如何焦急等待它的完成！你們以為我來，是為給世上帶來和平嗎？不，我告訴你們：是帶來分裂。 從今以後，一家五口的，將要分裂：三個反對兩個，兩個反對三個。（路12:49-52）

在每一個偉大的人物心中，都有一種「火」，一種深不可測的大慈悲，一分無可遏止的深情，一種無法完全滿足的渴望，一種越燒越旺、永不熄滅的熊熊之火。他或是愛蒼生、愛百姓，或是愛國家、愛民族，或是愛理想、愛事業，或是愛朋友、愛家庭、愛教會、愛信仰。

這種「火」是情和愛的結合，是在大愛之中，包含著深情、濃情和激情的一種精神狀態，是歐陽修所謂「人生自是有情癡」的情，是「天若有情天亦老」的情。

若望一書說「天主是愛」，而他的教會，也是一個愛的教會，一個上愛天主、下愛世人的團體。這是一個充滿愛火與濃情的教會，所以她的創始人－－基督，也就更加不能不是一個充滿了愛火與濃情的天主、充滿了愛火與濃情的人。

所以耶穌才說：「我來是要把火投在世上，我是多麼切望它已經燃燒起來！」切望，就是懇切的期望、熱切的盼望，像大旱之望雲霓，像疲乏的遊子盼望著回到溫暖而安全的家，那是多大、多濃、多深的愛和情！

耶穌投下的，是他自己心中的火，要燃燒的，是世人冰冷的心。他要用自己生命的火，加上他點燃在教會心中的火，去燃點起這個無情的世界，驅除世上的一切冰冷，燒盡人間的一切污穢，焚盡世上的一切罪惡、阻隔、冷漠、無動於衷、不思進取，和不冷不熱。

耶穌不單心中有火，他還急著要讓這火燃燒起來：「我是如何焦急，等待它的完成！」他本來早已知道他要完成的是什麼，那就是為人類而自我犧牲。他要在愛的祭壇上，奉獻自己整個的生命，完成一個血的洗禮。這不是一個浪漫的洗禮，他將為此洗禮而驚恐至「汗下如血」（路22:44）。但是他竟渴望著它的到來！這也許亦是文天祥「鼎鑊甘如飴，求之不可得」的那種視死如歸的心境吧？

為了愛，為了心中的那個「火」，人竟然可以用渴望的心情，來迎向一切的逆境和災難！

有一位年輕的媽媽，當她要生第一個孩子時，她選擇了自然生產，而拒絕那種「無痛分娩」，因為她說，如果她經歷了那種人間最大的分娩之苦以後，她會更愛由她生下來的孩子。她本來很怕痛，任何的小小疼痛，都會令她呱呱大叫。但為了孩子，她什麼都願意嚐。這就是「鼎鑊甘如飴，求之不可得」的家庭版。

有了至大的理想，便會有至大的對立；正因為耶穌有至大的愛、至高的理想，所以他才招致了最大的反對和迫害。他的生命本身，最終亦成了一個分裂的記號。這也是西默盎在耶穌獻於主堂時，老早已經預言了的。

但耶穌並沒有真的帶來分裂，分裂並不是他製造出來的，他也不想人間有分裂。他本來是「奇妙的謀士、強力的天主、永恆之父、和平之王」（依9:5），他出生時，天使還為他高聲歡唱：「天主受享光榮於高天，主愛的人在世享平安。」(路2:14)

但分裂卻是任何一個有理想的人，在一個沒有理想的世界裡必然會遭到的命運；而他的行為也必然會帶來分裂的後果。

也有一些時候，追求理想本身，已經足以令人感受到「分裂」之苦。明朝袁崇煥將軍為了守護邊疆，便曾經慨嘆說：「十年以來，父母不得以為子，妻孥不得以為夫，手足不得以為兄弟，交遊不得以為朋友。」為了國家民族，袁崇煥沒有時間孝順父母、沒有時間愛護妻兒，他不得不自嘲是明朝境內的一個「亡命之徒」。這就是理想的代價！
當然，我們也要小心，因為分裂並不一定是由「理想」而來的。我們有時是為了耶穌的緣故而經驗到分裂，有時卻是自己用了耶穌的名字而製造了分裂。

讓我們一起為人類的分裂而懺悔。我們不怕為基督而忍受迫害、分裂之苦，但我們也要小心，不要以基督的名義迫害別人，不要在這個已經四分五裂的世界中，再製造多一些分裂。

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爱火如焚拯万世，忍对分裂创共融

读经一：(耶38:4-6,8-10)：耶肋米亚先知被迫害
读经二：(希12:1-4)：应依靠基督对抗罪恶
福　音：(路12:49-53)：耶稣是人反对的对象
中国文化：鼎镬甘如饴，求之不可得。
十年以来，父母不得以为子，妻孥不得以为夫，手足不得以为兄弟，交游不得以为朋友。

我来是要把火投在世上，我是多么切望它已经燃烧起来！我有一個应受的洗礼，我是如何焦急等待它的完成！你们以为我来，是为给世上带来和平吗？不，我告诉你们：是带来分裂。 从今以后，一家五口的，将要分裂：三個反对两個，两個反对三個。（路12:49-52）

在每一個伟大的人物心中，都有一种「火」，一种深不可測的大慈悲，一分无可遏止的深情，一种无法完全满足的渴望，一种越烧越旺、永不熄灭的熊熊之火。他或是爱苍生、爱百姓，或是爱国家、爱民族，或是爱理想、爱事业，或是爱朋友、爱家庭、爱教会、爱信仰。

这种「火」是情和爱的结合，是在大爱之中，包含著深情、浓情和激情的一种精神状态，是欧阳修所谓「人生自是有情痴」的情，是「天若有情天亦老」的情。

若望一书说「天主是爱」，而他的教会，也是一個爱的教会，一個上爱天主、下爱世人的团体。这是一個充满爱火与浓情的教会，所以她的创始人－－基督，也就更加不能不是一個充满了爱火与浓情的天主、充满了爱火与浓情的人。

所以耶稣才说：「我来是要把火投在世上，我是多么切望它已经燃烧起来！」切望，就是恳切的期望、热切的盼望，像大旱之望云霓，像疲乏的游子盼望著回到温暖而安全的家，那是多大、多浓、多深的爱和情！

耶稣投下的，是他自己心中的火，要燃烧的，是世人冰冷的心。他要用自己生命的火，加上他点燃在教会心中的火，去燃点起这個无情的世界，驱除世上的一切冰冷，烧尽人间的一切污秽，焚尽世上的一切罪恶、阻隔、冷漠、无动於衷、不思进取，和不冷不热。

耶稣不单心中有火，他还急著要让这火燃烧起来：「我是如何焦急，等待它的完成！」他本来早已知道他要完成的是什么，那就是为人类而自我牺牲。他要在爱的祭坛上，奉献自己整個的生命，完成一個血的洗礼。这不是一個浪漫的洗礼，他将为此洗礼而惊恐至「汗下如血」（路22:44）。但是他竟渴望著它的到来！这也许亦是文天祥「鼎镬甘如饴，求之不可得」的那种视死如归的心境吧？

为了爱，为了心中的那個「火」，人竟然可以用渴望的心情，来迎向一切的逆境和灾难！

有一位年轻的妈妈，当她要生第一個孩子時，她选择了自然生產，而拒绝那种「无痛分娩」，因为她说，如果她经历了那种人间最大的分娩之苦以后，她会更爱由她生下来的孩子。她本来很怕痛，任何的小小疼痛，都会令她呱呱大叫。但为了孩子，她什么都願意尝。这就是「鼎镬甘如饴，求之不可得」的家庭版。

有了至大的理想，便会有至大的对立；正因为耶稣有至大的爱、至高的理想，所以他才招致了最大的反对和迫害。他的生命本身，最终亦成了一個分裂的记号。这也是西默盎在耶稣献於主堂時，老早已经预言了的。

但耶稣并没有真的带来分裂，分裂并不是他制造出来的，他也不想人间有分裂。他本来是「奇妙的谋士、强力的天主、永恒之父、和平之王」（依9:5），他出生時，天使还为他高声欢唱：「天主受享光荣於高天，主爱的人在世享平安。」(路2:14)

但分裂却是任何一個有理想的人，在一個没有理想的世界里必然会遭到的命运；而他的行为也必然会带来分裂的后果。

也有一些時候，追求理想本身，已经足以令人感受到「分裂」之苦。明朝袁崇焕将军为了守护边疆，便曾经慨叹说：「十年以来，父母不得以为子，妻孥不得以为夫，手足不得以为兄弟，交游不得以为朋友。」为了国家民族，袁崇焕没有時间孝顺父母、没有時间爱护妻儿，他不得不自嘲是明朝境内的一個「亡命之徒」。这就是理想的代价！
当然，我们也要小心，因为分裂并不一定是由「理想」而来的。我们有時是为了耶稣的缘故而经验到分裂，有時却是自己用了耶稣的名字而制造了分裂。

让我们一起为人类的分裂而忏悔。我们不怕为基督而忍受迫害、分裂之苦，但我们也要小心，不要以基督的名义迫害别人，不要在这個已经四分五裂的世界中，再制造多一些分裂。

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TWENTIETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

The Fire of Love Burns to Save the World,
Endure Disunity Patiently in order to Create Unity

First Reading (Jer 38: 4-6, 8-10): The Prophet Jeremiah was persecuted
Second Reading (Heb 12: 1-4): We should rely on Christ to oppose sin
Gospel (Lk 12L 49 –53): Jesus is the object of human beings’ opposition
Chinese classics:
-“Death by boiling alive would be like sweetmeat. Just what I wish for but am denied.” (1)
-“For ten years my parents cannot call me their son, my wife cannot call me her husband; my brothers cannot call me their brother, my friends cannot call me their friend.” (2)

I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed! Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! From now on, five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three.” (Lk 12: 49-52)

All great people have a kind of “fire” deep within their hearts, a kind of immeasurable compassion, an unquenchable affection, a hope that cannot be completely fulfilled, a consuming fire that can never be extinguished. Their affection may be directed to Life itself, or to all of humanity, or country or nation. Or perhaps they deeply love an ideal, their work, friends, family, church, their faith.

This 'fire' is a combination of affection and love, and this great love includes an attitude of deep, warm, rousing passion. It is the affection described by Ou Yang Xiu in his poem, “Sometimes there are 'fools' for passion and if there can be passion in Heaven, for certain it will grow old because of it.”

The First Epistle of St. John says, “God is love.” God’s church is a church of love, a community that loves God and loves humanity. It is a church filled with the fire of love and deep affection. So its founder, Christ, cannot be other than a God filled with the fire of love and affection, and a human being filled with the same fire of love and affection.
This explains Jesus' words, “I came to bring fire to the earth and how I wish it were already kindled!” Here, 'wish' is a strong hope, an intense longing as during a drought one longs for water, or an exhausted traveler longs for the warmth and safety of home. Such is the depth and warmth of this love and affection.

What Jesus left us is his own heart's fire and what it enkindles are the cold hearts of us human beings. He uses the fire of his own life, adding to it the fire he has lighted in the Church, to warm the heartless world and drive away its coldness. He burns away the grime of the earth, sin and separation, coldness and indifference, the lack of motivation and mediocrity.

Jesus not only possesses such fire, he is eager to light it: “What stress I am under until it is completed!” Jesus early knew the task he must accomplish, how he must sacrifice himself for humankind. He would sacrifice himself on the altar of love, offer his entire life in a baptism of blood. This was not a romantic baptism, he feared what was to come: “His sweat became like great drops of blood” (Lk 22:44). Yet he longed for it to come!. Was this not like Wen Tian Xiang who looked on death as a release and said, “Death by boiling alive would be like sweetmeat. Just what I wish for but am denied.” (1)

It truly is wonderful that a person can long for so much distress and calamity for the sake of love, the fire that is within one's heart!

There was a young mother who chose natural childbirth for her first child, refusing a 'painless delivery.' She said that if she experienced the excruciating pain of childbirth, she would love the child she herself had brought forth all the more. Actually she was very afraid of pain and would cry at the slightest cut. But for the sake of her child she was willing to suffer anything. This is an example of the saying above as applied to family bonding, “Death by boiling alive would be like sweetmeat, just what I wish for but am denied.”(1)

All those who have high ideals will meet with strong opposition, just as Jesus' all-encompassing love and high ideals caused such great opposition and persecution. In the end his life became a sign of contradiction. That was what Simeon had prophesized long before, at the time Jesus was presented in the temple.

Yet Jesus did not really bring about the contradiction, it was not of his creation. Nor did he wish for such divisions among human beings. He is the one who is “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Is 9:5) When he was born, the angels loudly sang for him, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom God favours! (Lk 2:14)

Yet, in a world without ideals, discord certainly will be the fate of those who have ideals. And inevitably their actions will result in disunity.

Also, sometimes in pursuit of one's ideals one must endure the pain of division. In the Ming Dynasty the patriotic general Yuan Chong Huan fought for a long time to protect his country's borders. He once sighed and said, “For ten years my parents cannot call me their son, my wife cannot call me her husband, my brothers cannot call me their brother, my friends cannot call me their friend.” (2) For the sake of his country and nation, Yuan Chong Huan had no time to pay filial respect to his parents, nor demonstrate his love and care for his wife and children. He could not help but mock himself, saying he was like a 'desperado' within the borders of the Ming empire. This was the price he paid for an ideal!

Of course, we must be on our guard, because divisions do not necessarily stem from 'ideals.' Sometimes we may experience discord for the sake of Jesus and sometimes we use disunity in the name of Jesus.

Let us all repent of the disunity that exists among humankind. Let us not be afraid to undergo persecution or the pain of division for the sake of Christ. But we must be careful not to persecute others in the name of Christ. And in a world already so full of discord, let us not create even further division.

(1)鼎鑊甘如飴，求之不可得。
(2)十年以來，父母不得以為子，妻孥不得以為夫，手足不得以為兄弟，交遊不得以為朋友。